News

Russell backs baby swab test battle

A COLCHESTER mum joined a charity chief executive at the House of Commons to press the town’s MP for action over a potentially fatal childbird infection.

Campaigners have accused the Government of carrying out a U-turn over a pledge to introduce a more accurate swab for Group B Strep, a bacterial infection passed from pregnant mother to child.

One in ten children die if theyhave the infection, while a further one in 20 suffer lifelong mental and physical problems. A general test now misses two in five cases, but a test available for £35 privately would be more effective.

Su Newton, who nearly lost daughter Emily after she was born with the infection, joined group chief executive Jane Plumb for a meeting with Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell.

Mrs Newton, whose daughter is now a healthy four-year-old, said: “I find the decision not to introduce routine screening extremely hard to comprehend.”

After the meeting Sir Bob tabled two written parliamentary questions. He said: “I am fully supportive of the campaign and will do my best to ensure we get a positive outcome.”

rhetoric wrote:
ChildBIRD infection? Where is the Editor when you need him?

At least the meaning is clear. Standards of written English are so low now, we have to accept that in an ephemeral product like a newspaper, it is idle to expect correct English. Some of us are no better.

[quote][p][bold]rhetoric[/bold] wrote:
ChildBIRD infection? Where is the Editor when you need him?[/p][/quote]At least the meaning is clear. Standards of written English are so low now, we have to accept that in an ephemeral product like a newspaper, it is idle to expect correct English. Some of us are no better.Boris